Create a task unassignment constraint

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read

    • Dynamic scheduling allows you to define unassignment constraints that prevent certain tasks from being unassigned, even when lower in priority. This feature ensures that critical tasks stay assigned, based on dependencies or urgency.

    Before you begin

    Role required: admin

    About this task

    Unassignment constraints help control when tasks can or can’t be unassigned, ensuring that essential tasks remain assigned. This prevents disruptions, especially when tasks have dependencies or are time-sensitive. For example, a task nearing its SLA breach or one that requires sourced parts shouldn’t be unassigned, regardless of its relative priority in the task ordering rules.

    Dynamic scheduling offers three predefined unassignment constraints:
    1. Task with downstream: Prevents unassignment if the task has downstream tasks that depend on it.
    2. Would breach SLA in the next five hours: Prevents unassignment if the task's Service Level Agreement (SLA) is expiring within five hours.
    3. Part sourced: Prevents unassignment if one or more parts required for the task have already been sourced.

    Enabling the unassignment option in Dynamic Scheduling configuration allows the system to unassign tasks in favor of more important tasks (as determined by task ordering rules). However, unassignment constraints can prevent specific tasks from being unassigned, even if the task is of lower priority. If a task is unassigned and has downstream tasks, the downstream tasks are also unassigned and added to the pending dispatch queue.

    Real-world use cases:
    • Healthcare: Prevent unassignment of critical medical equipment maintenance tasks nearing an SLA breach.
    • Manufacturing: Block unassignment of tasks that have sourced parts, ensuring resources are used efficiently.
    • Utilities: Keep emergency repair tasks assigned when downstream dependencies are involved.

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to All > Field Service > Administration > Dynamic Scheduling Configuration.
    2. In the Un-Assignment Constraints related list, click New.
    3. Click the lookup icon next to the Constraint field.
    4. In the Constraints list, click New.
    5. Fill in the fields on the Constraint form, as necessary.
      Table 1. Constraint form
      Field Description
      Name The constraint name.
      Task Table Select the task table to which this constraint applies.
      Type Choose the type of constraint.
      • Simple: Define a simple constraint by selecting a table, a task field, and one or more filter conditions.
      • Advanced: Define an advanced constraint by creating a script.
      Constraint Table Specify the table used to define the constraint on a task.
      Task Field Select the task field to which this constraint applies.
      Constraint Condition When this condition is true, it prevents task reassignment or unassignment.
      Constraint Script If using an advanced constraint, create a script to define the constraint details.
    6. Click Submit.
      The constraint is saved and returns you to the Un-Assignment Constraint form.
    7. Click Submit.
      The constraint is active and added to the configuration in the Un-Assignment Constraints related list.

    Result

    This constraint prevents task unassignment based on the specified conditions, ensuring that tasks are not unassigned even if they have lower importance according to the task ordering rules.